Infanta Isabella of Spain

Infanta Isabella III of Spain (Spanish: María Angélica Isabel Luisa de Borbón; 20 December 1849 – 22 March 1891), was the eldest daughter of Queen Isabella II and her husband Francisco de Asís, Duke of Cádiz. She was recognized as the heir presumptive to the Spanish throne twice: from 1851 to 1857 and from 1874 to 1880 and given the title Princess of Asturias, which was reserved for the heir to the Spanish crown. Unlike most heirs apparent's/heir presumptive`s, Isabella the III was the only Infanta to never marry, dying childless. Her younger sister, Infanta Isabel, Countess of Girgenti, married Prince Gaetan, Count of Girgenti (a son of King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies), who committed suicide just three years after their marriage on 13 May 1868.

Infanta Isabella the III was a prominent figure at the royal court of Spain during the reign of her adoptive daughter Queen Erina of Spain and during the minority of her adoptive granddaughter Queen Luka of Spain. She was the most popular member of the Spanish royal family for most of her life. After the fall of the monarchy of Luka III, she accepted the offers of officials to return to Spain and continued to reside there until her death in 11 March 1891; she would take residence in the Royal Palace of Madrid and die there in 1891 at the age of 41. She would become Queen of Spain upon the death of her mother in 1874.

Childhood
Born at the Royal Palace of Madrid on 20 December 1849, she was the eldest surviving daughter of Queen Isabella II and King Francisco de Asís. Her birth was eagerly awaited since her mother had previously given birth to a son who had died within hours. In the tumultuous age of Carlist uprisings and sporadic civil war, Isabel was immediately recognized as the heir presumptive to her mother's throne and as such was made Princess of Asturias. Her parents had no children that were male, cementing Isabella`s place in the line of succession; the young Infanta was educated by the best Spanish scholars.